Experts of the Americas Series

Episode 15: Why and how to expand through franchising in Latin America?

As Latin America seeks much-needed foreign investments and as multinational companies eye expansion in Latin America, Baker McKenzie’s partner Kevin Maher and senior associate Ximena Couret sat down with Senior Fellow Pepe Zhang to discuss the opportunities and challenges in expanding franchising models in the region.

Episode 14: Ecuador’s post-pandemic economic recovery

Ecuador’s New Minister of Finance and Economy Pablo Arosemena sat down with Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s Senior Director Jason Marczak to discuss the emerging opportunities for trade and investment in Ecuador, and the steps the country has taken to strengthen its partnership with the US under a complex environment of soaring living costs and fuel prices.

Episode 13: Digital transformation and opportunities for cloud computing

Adam Aft, partner and lead of the North America Technology Transactions Group at Baker McKenzie and Pepe Zhang, associate director and fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center discuss the benefits of cloud computing, as well as the opportunities and challenges for digital transformations in Latin America.

Episode 12: Elections in 2022 and the resilience of Brazilian democracy

Ricardo Sennes, nonresident senior Brazil fellow at the Center and Managing Partner of Prospectiva Consulting, and Valentina Sader, assistant director and Brazil lead at the Latin America Center discuss the upcoming 2022 elections in Brazil, polarization, and the upcoming Summit for Democracy.

Episode 11: Polarization in Colombia

Lina Torres, Director of Knowledge Management and Strategy at Movilizatorio, and Camila Hernandez, Assistant Director and Colombia Lead at the Latin America Center, discuss polarization in Colombia. Watch the episode to find out what divides and what unites the Colombian people.

Episode 10: Promoting sustainable development in Colombia’s Pacific region

María Isabel Ulloa, executive director at ProPacífico and former Vice Minister of Mines of Colombia, and Camila Hernandez, assistant director and Colombia lead at the Atlantic Council, discuss the importance of promoting sustainable development in Colombia’s Pacific region.

Episode 9: Colombia’s national strike

Jacobo Tovar, director of Comfandi, sits down with Camila Hernandez, assistant director and Colombia lead at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, to discuss the implications of ongoing social and political tensions in Colombia and how the US can support its ally at this critical moment.

Episode 8: Energy Transformations in Latin America and the Caribbean

Benjamín Torres-Barrón, partner, Mining & Infrastructure Practice Group, Baker McKenzie Mexico, sits down with Maria Fernanda Bozmoski, deputy director, programs, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, to discuss the future of renewable energy in Latin America and the Caribbean; how COVID-19 has affected the region’s energy transformation; and the existing regulatory frameworks that facilitate or hinder the diversification of the energy sector.

Episode 7: Lessons from women in diplomacy

Ambassador Martha Bárcena, former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, sits down for a conversation with Capricia Marshall, ambassador-in-residence and vice chair of the Center’s Advisory Council, to discuss women’s leadership, work-life balance, and the importance of women at the negotiation and decision-making table for strengthening the global order.

Episode 6: Women in peacebuilding and Colombia’s peace accord

Maria Victoria Llorente, executive director of Fundación Ideas para La Paz of Colombia, sits down for a virtual conversation with Camila Hernandez, assistant director at the Latin America Center, to discuss women’s role in peacebuilding, the gender angle of Colombia’s peace accord, and initiatives by the private sector to promote peace and close gender gaps.

Episode 5: Women empowerment and indigenous rights

Maria Tuyuc, president of the Global Network of Indigenous Entrepreneurs of Guatemala, sits down for a virtual conversation with Maria Fernanda Bozmoski, deputy director for programs at the Latin America Center to discuss women’s economic empowerment in indigenous communities.

Episode 4: Girls’ education for gender equality

Erika Ender, singer, songwriter, and philanthropist (Panama), sits down for a virtual conversation with Cristina Guevara, assistant director at the Latin America Center to discuss gender inequalities, the importance of girls’ education, and the role of the arts in the process toward gender equality.

Episode 3: The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Caribbean Initiative

Jason Marczak, Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, sits down for a virtual conversation with Vicki Assevero, Senior Fellow, Caribbean Initiative, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. They discuss critical challenges facing the Caribbean region and the strategic shaping of this new initiative.

Episode 2: Representative Carlos Paparoni and Douglas Farah on Maduro’s illicit activities, Alex Saab & more

Representative Carlos Paparoni, presidential commissioner against terrorism and organized crime and head of regional office against money laundering and corruption for the interim government of Venezuela, and Douglas Farah, Latin America security expert and Atlantic Council author, sit down for a virtual conversation with Diego Area, associate director and Venezuela lead at the Latin America Center. They discuss how a global web of illicit activities provides a lifeline to the Nicolás Maduro regime, the latest on Maduro-Iran ties, and the rise and fall of Maduro frontman Alex Saab.

Episode 1: USMCA and North American supply chains

Raymundo Enríquez, partner at Baker McKenzie (Mexico), sits down for a virtual conversation with Maria Fernanda Pérez Argüello, associate director and Mexico lead at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.